Beaten

Chapter 7

Jane hasn't been her usual self ever since Haley and I went missing, and Chloe died.
Miss B's been a little different too.
She's excited about her baby, but it's weird without the others.
Kendra is in full-on depression and Nikki follows in those footsteps.
Jane's been picking fights and arguing of stress.
A week after Haley and I went missing, things got bad.
Ari, a popular mean girl in our grade, starting picking on her.
" Aw, the poor girl's friends are missing " She snickered.
" Not all of them " Kendra stood behind fuming Jane.
" Guys, let's not do this again " Nikki complained.
" Shut up " Ari put her hand up to Nikki.
" Oh no you didn't just do that " Nikki gasped in a laugh.
" What's the matter, b*tch? Too scared to come back " Ari laughed.
Jane took a deep breath.
" Good job, let's not engage " Nikki pulled her away.
" Was Chloe to weak to fight back before she died? " Ari yelled at Jane, as they walked away.
Jane hit her breaking point, it was enough to make her snap.
" Oh snap! I'm gonna pitch slap you so hard! " Jane screamed and tackled her.
" Are you to weak to fight back now? " Kendra screamed too.
" Guys! Stop! " Nikki yelled.
As Ari and Jane swung at each other on the floor, Ari socked Jane right in the eye.
Everybody froze.
" Oh no, I broke your too perfect nose " Ari snickered again.
" If we weren't at school I'd kick your damn a** " Jane swept herself off and got off of Ari.
Ari just gasped on the floor.
" B*tch please " Kendra wrapped her arm around Jane and Nikki and walked away.
" That's my girl " Kendra fist pumped Jane.
" What has gotten into you? " Nikki asked Jane " Ive never seen you do anything like that "
" She just ticked me off, how could she say something so cruel about Chloe? " Jane's voice crackled.
" Well, she's not messin with Jane again " Kendra laughed.
" Aw snap " Nikki laughed.

Miss B's POV

I could not get the frozen orange juice cap off.
I was getting ticked.
It was 7 am, I had really bad morning sickness, and some weird cravings, so I went downstairs to get something to wash away the revolting taste in my mouth.
Ok so, the orange juice cap was frozen tight.
Come on, I just wanted to make some orange juice, and it wasn't working for me.
I pounded it on the island counter for a few more minutes before giving up.
Ding! Ding! My laptop buzzed next to me.
I opened it up, sat down on the floor next to the counter, and propped it up on my stomach.
I thought this was so crazy that I could basically write something down on paper on my belly now.
' Hey, r u coming to the search tonight? ' the email from Eric read.
Oh yeah, the search party for Haley and Lacy was tonight.
I don't know if I could handle it without breaking down, but I love them so much I must go and help as much as I can.
Standing up from the floor, afraid I'd throw up again, I stared at the poster on the window.
They were two missing posters, one with a picture and description of Lacy Star, and the other was a picture and description of Haley Harvard, both missing on November 21st.
Today was November 28th, exactly a week.
I felt a tear make it's way down my cheek, I'm surprised I haven't cried all my tears out yet.
Have to be pretty close, to not being ably to cry anymore.
My phone vibrated in my pocket.
'Ready to go? ' Eric asked in a text.
'I think so ' I replied.
Slipping into a black baggy maturity top, dark boot cut jeans, flat stripped sneakers, applying mascara, and brushing my long brown hair out, I waited impatiently for Eric to come.
When he finally came, I rushed to the car in a hurry, scared Carter was watching.
Eric greeted me with a kiss on the cheek.
I didn't even respond.
" Amber, you ok? " He asked.
I shook my head to regain focus, and leaned over and kissed him on the cheek " Hi " I smiled.
" Looking good for a pregnant lady " Eric nudged me playfully.
" Haha, I hear your sarcasm " I smiled back.
" No really, you look great " He became serious.
" I'm fat, you don't have to pretend " I stared back at him.
" Well if your not going to take my compliments then let's go " He started the car back up.
I laughed and looked out the car window.
I couldn't believe I was going to a search party, for my 2 students, that I can't bear to think about, if I find them... Not alive.

Amy met up with us as it was getting dark, near the woods, a huge search party gathered behind the football field with flashlights.
Some were already shouting for the girls.
I zipped up my jacket, as the breeze chilled me to the bone.
Eric wrapped his arm around my shoulder, and I curled up next to him.
As we waited for some people to finish arriving, Amy and I talked while Eric went to talk with some of his friends.
" I think there's something I should tell you " Amy sighed.
" What's up? " I asked, rubbing my cold arms.
" So, you know that I'm married, and have kids- " I cut her off as she began " Kids? "
" Yeah, I thought you knew... I was pregnant last year during the school year " Amy explained.
" Oh yeah " I thought back and felt dumb.
" I had twins, they're going to be one in February " She laughed " A boy and a girl, Connor and Kate "
" Oh they must be adorable, I bet Kate looks just like you " I smiled.
" She's got my brown eyes " Amy laughed too.
" So... What's this have to do with what you have to tell me? " I stiffened, starting the awkward conversation up again.
" The whole thing with Carter was just a big mistake... " Amy started to let tears roll down her face " He raped me "
My heart fell in my chest.
Vomit rose up in my throat.
I let it spill out, Amy grabbed my hair back, as I threw up, away from the others.
" Hey, hey babe, are you okay? " Eric helped me back up, as he ran to us.
I nodded and coughed again, crouching over.
I wiped my mouth, and told Eric to give a minute, and he left.
" Did he get you pregnant? " I gasped.
Amy nodded with tears " In only a couple weeks after I found out, I decided I wouldn't tell him, and go to the hospital to decide what to do... And he grabbed me.... And- And beat me and kicked me in the stomach.... They told me I miscarried " Amy was now sobbing.
I don't know what to say to her, I wanted to scream at her and tell her to call the cops, but this was her decision and I couldn't influence it.
" I'm sorry " I hugged her.
The final group showed up, and we decided to forget the conversation and head off on the search,
Eric took my hand, and I took Amy's.
The three of us started to walk with the huge group, in the dark, screaming names and holding flashlights.